Samantha Long

Samantha Long is a reporter, producer and web producer for NBN News in Newcastle, she's previously worked in Tamworth and on the Central Coast. Samantha completed a Bachelor of Communication from the University of Newcastle in 2015 and joined NBN at the end of 2015.

With water safety front of mind this summer, having the best equipment possible is a MUST for any surf club. Today, one of the Hunter’s oldest branches received a much needed upgrade – the new IRB, named after a vital member of the team.

The Greens have revealed two Hunter candidates, contesting the upcoming state election. Sinead Francis-Coan and Charlotte McCabe will contest Sonia Hornery and Tim Crakanthorp’s seats respectively. “Unfortunately I do feel Wallsend can be neglected, by the state government in particular, so I’ll be looking to restore as much attention to what the people of Wallsend are saying…” says Sinead Francis-Coan. “I think climate change is a really big issue because obviously it effects everyone and everything, we have a proposed off-shore oil & gas development at the moment, and I really want to work with the community to make sure that doesn’t happen.” says Charlotte McCabe. Both candidates will focus on global warming and gender equality. (AUDIO IN PARTS)

After years of delays, construction on the new Maitland Hospital has begun. In a pre-election blitz of the region, the Health Minister marked a major milestone for the project, alongside a familiar Hunter face, who hasn’t ruled out running as a Liberal candidate.

The Hunter’s Toby Price has done it – he’s taken out his second Dakar Rally title in Peru. With a time of one hour and 14 minutes, he won the final stage – two minutes and 21 seconds in front of second placed, Chile’s Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo. It hasn’t been an easy Dakar for Price, battling with a broken wrist.

LATEST 6pm: A woman is in a critical condition, following a head-on collision at Williamtown on Wednesday afternoon. A Holden Statesman and a Toyota Echo collided on Cabbage Tree Road just after 1.30 this afternoon, trapping three people – a man and woman in their 60s, and the male driver of the other vehicle. Emergency crews worked for more than an hour to free them. The woman was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, while the two men were taken by road ambulance in a stable condition. Police are continue their investigations. EARLIER: Two patients have been taken to John Hunter Hospital by road ambulance, while one other has been airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Cabbage Tree Road at Williamtown is closed in both directions, after a serious two-car collision. It’s understood three people were involved in the accident shortly after …

HOT WHEELS | A Newcastle cyclist has been caught with his pants on fire – no, this isn’t the start to a bad joke, but an unfortunate turn of events in Adelaide! His wheels, and his lycra sadly won’t be making the trip back home… NBN News caught up with Gary Ryan in South Australia.

A 37-year-old woman will face Gosford Local Court today, accused of supplying drugs in the Gosford area. Strike Force Plower was established in October 2018 to investigate the supply of drugs, namely methylamphetamine, in the Gosford area. Around midday yesterday, police arrested a woman after a vehicle stop on the Pacific Highway at Lisarow. The vehicle was searched, and officers allegedly located and seized an amount of drugs, believed to be methylamphetamine. Later in the day, police searched a home on Hills Street, North Gosford, where they seized mobile phones, cannabis and a weapon. The woman was charged with several drug supply offences.

Police have released an image of two men they wish to speak to, in relation to an armed robbery at East Maitland. Around 3.20am on January 15, two men entered a service station on the New England Highway. One man asked the attendant for cigarettes, while the second man took items from the rear of the store. When the man told the attendant he didn’t have any money, the employee refused to hand over the cigarettes. The man threatened the attendant with a bottle he was carrying. He then walked around the counter, pushed the employee, and took the cigarettes from him – while the second man searched the employee’s backpack before both men fled. Investigators would like to speak to two men, described as: – aged between 30-35-years of age, 170cms tall, medium build, wearing a black cap, ‘Dallas …

Three teenagers have been charged, following an alleged armed robbery in Woy Woy. Around 3.30am on January 14, police allege three boys, all aged 16, entered a service station on Memorial Avenue, Blackwell, and threatened the attendant with a gun while demanding cash. The teens fled on foot with a sum of cash. Officers attended the scene, where they located and seized two replica firearms nearby. Following inquiries, later that day, one teen was arrested and charged with robbery in company, while armed with dangerous weapon. He was refused bail to reappear in a Children’s Court on March 12. Yesterday, another two teens were arrested at a Woy Woy home and charged. Both were refused bail to appear in a Children’s Court today.

A Lake Macquarie community group is calling on council to reconsider its proposed location for a six-storey development on the Toronto foreshore. Late last month, council re-classified a number of parcels of land across the region. The Coal Point Progress Association says other vacant blocks would be more suitable. (VISION ONLY)

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Join Paul Lobb, Natasha Beyersdorf, Gavin Morris and Mitch Hughes for the latest news, sport and weather, 7 days a week, 365 days a year covering Northern NSW from the Central Coast up to the Gold Coast and including Tamworth and surrounding areas. With an experienced staff of reporters Tyson Cottrill, Jane Goldsmith, Sam Djodan, Kate Haberfield dedicated to bringing you the latest local news, the news that matters to you.